LOTRO Tales: Wardens Be Like…

Developer’s Diary – Warden Updates from OnnMacMahal

 

Leveling: Progression or Completion?

One of the main issues I have with Lord of the Rings Online is that there is so much of it. There are far more experience points available in any zone from quests than one actually needs to level up to progress to higher regions. On the other hand, there is such a rich story line, that missing any quest seems to take away from the complete experience that the game has to offer. These are the horns of the leveling dilemma, so how is one to cope?

So I’m adopting a “Both is Good” attitude for my play through

I am of a mind to find the middle way. In most games I am a die hard completionist, but I fear on the current 8 characters that I have going that if I stuck to my normal routine of doing EVERYTHING that there would not be enough time left in my current lifespan to be able to get everyone through everything. So I’m adopting a “Both is Good” attitude for my play through.

On my seven crafting characters I am following the progression mode of play. This entails following the Epic Quests from region to region making judicious use of the experience inhibitor to prevent over leveling. Each one completes deeds and some side quests to complete the Epic Books and then they move on leaving much content behind.

For my completionist side I have an eighth character and on this individual, I complete absolutely EVERYTHING in all regions at all major leveling break points. Level 1-15 I don’t just complete my assigned starting area, but I complete all starting areas. and then progress to the next leveling tier and repeat. This takes a lot longer, but I get to experience everything, and my gameplay OCD is satisfied.

 

Do the Deeds: Completion and Crafting

On undertaking the task to complete the regional deeds on all seven character, I have discovered that it generates an absolute treasure trove of crafting materials for all vocations. The exception to this is perhaps the Yeoman. The Farmer/Cook character is largely self-sufficient in crafting to begin with, but completing deeds generates a lot of the resources that can be applied to critical success while crafting. It’s a bonanza.

As a result the characters are generally better equipped when starting a new tier

This also goes hand in hand with general leveling and resource gathering by each character. With all characters maintaining close leveling within 1 level of each other, the shared mats allow each to develop their vocations at the same speed. Similarly their ability to provide useful equipment, armour, weapons, and other crafted items for each other is maintained. As a result the characters are generally better equipped when starting a new tier of the game than they would be relying only on drops from random mobs and quest rewards.

 

Leveling Mischief Managed

Well it took a few days but I’ve managed to slog through the Deeds of the starting areas and Bree-Land to bring the characters up to where they should have been (had I been paying attention). Race Traits, Virtue Traits, and reputation standing are all in a better place now. I have developed a slight twitch from spending so much time in the old Forest and the Barrow Downs. Nothing that a little hot tea and relaxing music can’t fix to remove the heavy atmosphere those two zones create.

this will ensure that my characters are “well rounded” as the journey continues

Going forward the goal will be to complete the regional Deeds as quests are undertaken. Using plugins like Deed Tracker and the application LOTRO Companion, I’m able to get a better overview of what needs to be accomplished in each location. Hopefully this will ensure that my characters are “well rounded” as the journey continues (and not from just eating all the Hobbit meals: Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, and Supper).

 

No Need to Rush (Some Backtracking Required)

When I started playing again, I was focused mainly on quest completion and leveling. While this let my characters progress nicely, a major component of advancement was being neglected. I wasn’t actually completing very many deeds, nor was I handing in very many tasks. This has proved to be a big factor in the slow advancement of the character’s race traits and virtue traits and general reputation with the various factions. A correction was necessary.

but there is some unfinished business

All my characters are level 26 now, and traversing through the Lone-Lands. I have started maxing out the daily tasks and completing the local deeds, but there is some unfinished business back in the starter areas and Bree-Land. So everyone is going back for a refresher. Armed with the “Stone of the Tortoise” which prevents the collection of experience so I don’t out level my current place in the Lone-Lands, everyone is paying a visit to the previous zones and is maxing out the local deeds in the pursuit of virtue, reputation, and sweet, sweet, LOTRO Points. There will be pie-running, there will be mail ruining, and there will be goblin slaying, but most of all there will be a better rounding out of everyone’s abilities.

 

The Magnificent Seven Ride Again

Exactly elven years ago I played Lord of the Rings Online and made it all the way to Isengard. I played on the old Vilya server and was a member of the Silverkeep Kin. I enjoyed playing the game immensely, however, online community drama and the real life loss of a kin mate to cancer kind of soured my experience and I moved on to other games and activities.    

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the gameplay

Recently I have gone through my own struggle with cancer and to keep myself entertained and distracted leading up to my surgery I started playing the game again. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the gameplay, the crafting and the sheer joy of travelling through Middle-earth again. It made the days before surgery less anxious, and in recovery, it is making the days less boring by giving me something to do.

I have rolled seven new characters and am leveling them all up as I progress through the epic stories and adventures. Each one has a separate main crafting responsibility covering all of the crafting guilds as per my post here.   

I am playing on the Gladden server now and each of my characters is a Rōnin and has no kinship affiliation. The team house is at number 4 Fountain Street, Cladlinch, Bree-Land Homesteads. Drop by for a visit.